Improvement in fastening devices for traveling-bags



J. W.VLIE B. Fastening Device for Traveling-Bags.

No. 204,743. Patented June 11, 3878.

".PETERs. PHOTO-L THOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C Unrrnnsrarns PATENT OF IonJO N W. LIEB, OF EAST NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

mpuovsmsurfm FASTENING DEVICES FOR TRAVELING-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,743, dated June 11,1878; application-filed;

March 22, 1878.

To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LIEB,-Of East Newark, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements inFasteningDevices for Traveling-Bags, of which .the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to an improved button or fastening to holdtraveling -bags or satchels closed at the sides or ends.

The invention consists in a rotary springbutton so constructed that whenturned backward in an unlocked position it will so remain, and that whenpressed by the finger it will lock automatically.

Various devices have hitherto been devised for the purpose of lockingbag-frames; but their construction was such that there was greatdifficulty in looking and unlocking and in retaining them in theirunlocked position while opening'and closing the bag.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of mydevice applied to a bag-frame in its locked position; Fig. 2,-

a like view of the same in an unlocked position. Figs. 3 and 4 aresectional views on the lines a: a: and y y, respectively; and Fig. 5, aperspective view of the button or looking device proper; Fig. 6, asectional view illustrating a modification of the device, whereby it ismade to serve the purpose of a key-lock.

In the drawings, A A represent the frame of the bag; B, a plate orstirrup secured to the outer side or top of the frame; 0, the lockingdevice proper, secured by the plate B to one jaw of the frame, andarranged to engage over the other jaw of the same in order to hold thebag shut.

As shown in the drawings, the button or locking device 0 consists,essentially, of the shaft a, provided at one end with a crank-arm, b.The shaft extends transversely through, and is held in place by theplate B, while the crank-arm projecting at oneend is in position to beturned down over the side of the frame. The shaft is arranged to have aslight endwise movement in its bearing, and is surrounded within theplate B by a spiral spring, D, one end of which bears against the frameor plate, while the other end bears against a shouldered collar, d,formed upon the shaft of the button, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thespring serves thetwofold purpose of urging the shaft around Upon turningthe crank-arm up ward from over the frame to unlock the latter, thespring, urging the shaft backward, draws the crankarm over until itrests upon the outside of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it isheld from turning down and again locking. In this way it will be seenthat the device is retained in its unlocked position, while the bag isbeing opened and closed. The rear end of the .shaft extends outward, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, beyond the plate B, and is provided with ahead or button.

When the device is to be looked a slight pressure upon the head orbutton is sufficient to force the shaft forward until the crank-arm iscarried past the front edge of the arm, whereupon the spring instantlyrotates the shaft, and causes the crank-arm to lock down over the sideface of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of limitingthe'rotation of the locking device the crank-arm is provided, as shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 5, with a shoulder, e, which bears upon the framewhen the button is in its locked position.

The form of the parts and arrangement of the details may be modifiedwithout departing from the limits of my invention, which consists in.combining with a rotary button or catch adapted to look a bag-frame aspring in such manner thatit will cause the button to remain in anunlocked position until released, and then cause it to lockautomatically.

Among other modifications which may be made are those of applying a flatinstead of a spiral spring, of having the spring merely effect theholding of the device in the unlocked position alone, andof having ashoulder on the plate to hold the button when unlocked, in place ofhaving the bearing on the frame. If desired, the shaft may have twocrank-arms at opposite ends to embrace opposite sides of the frame.

In case it is desired to" make the fastening device serve the purpose ofa keylock, the construction represented in Fig. 6 may be adopted, theplate or holder B being inlarged to form the case, within which there ispivoted a tumbler or lever, F, arranged to engage at one end with ashoulder or stud on the locking-dog, while its other end is adapted tobe acted upon by an ordinarykey, as represented in the drawings, thecase or body being provided with a key-hole and pintle of ordinary form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- r 1. Incombination vith a bag-frame, a transverse cranked shaft or arm, 0,having a limited end motion and a spring, D, arranged to act thereon,substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a bag-frame, a plate,

JOHN W. LIEB.

Witnesses J AS. A. BRUEN, F. R. STUBENBoRsT.

